Mark Schauer on Energy & Oil

Increase domestic oil production: drill in ANWR & offshore

There is no question that energy is one of the most important issues facing our country right now. Drilling for oil will be part of our energy portfolio for the foreseeable future--however,
I believe we can increase domestic oil production in a responsible way, while also creating new jobs and shifting to a renewable energy economy:

Expanded drilling in the 68 million acres of land already under lease by oil companies

Voted YES on enforcing limits on CO2 global warming pollution.

Congressional Summary:Requires utilities to supply an increasing percentage of their demand from a combination of energy efficiency savings and renewable energy (6% in 2012, 9.5% in 2014, 13% in 2016, 16.5% in 2018, and 20% in 2021). Provides for:

Amends the Clean Air Act (CAA) to set forth a national strategy to address barriers to the commercial-scale deployment of carbon capture and sequestration.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes:Rep. ED MARKEY (D, MA-7): For the first time in the history of our country, we will put enforceable limits on global warming pollution. At its core, however, this is a jobs bill. It will create millions of new, clean-energy jobs in whole new industries with incentives to drive competition in the energy marketplace.
It sets ambitious and achievable standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass so that by 2020, 20% of America's energy will be clean.

Opponent's argument to vote No:Rep. BOB GOODLATTE (R, VA-6): I agree that this bill has very important consequences, but those consequences are devastating for the future of the economy of this country. It's a fantasy that this legislation will turn down the thermostat of the world by reducing CO2 gas emissions when China & India & other nations are pumping more CO2 gas into the atmosphere all the time. We would be far better served with legislation that devotes itself to developing new technologies before we slam the door on our traditional sources of energy like coal and oil and and nuclear power. We support the effort for energy efficiency. We do not support this kind of suicide for the American economy. Unfortunately, cap and trade legislation would only further cripple our economy.

Include agricultural products in renewable fuels.

Schauer signed Renewable Fuel Standard Improvement Act

To amend the Clean Air Act as follows:

Define 'lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions' as the aggregate quantity of direct greenhouse gas emissions relating to the full fuel lifecycle, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy.

The term 'lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions' includes greenhouse gas emissions from all stages of fuel and feedstock production and distribution, from feedstock generation or extraction through the delivery and use of the finished fuel, accounting for the relative global warming potential of the greenhouse gases.

Reassign the baseline for renewable fuels at 3 year intervals, beginning in 2008.

Define 'renewable biomass' as materials, pre-commercial thinnings, or invasive species from National Forest System land and public lands that:

are byproducts of preventive treatments

that are removed to reduce hazardous fuels; to reduce or contain disease or insect infestation; or to restore ecosystem health;

would not otherwise be used for higher-value products; and

are harvested in accordance with land management plans; old-growth maintenance; and large-tree retention; or

any organic matter that is available on a renewable or recurring basis from non-Federal land including renewable plant material; feed grains; algae; crop residue; vegetative waste material; animal waste and byproducts; food waste and yard waste.